Nebraska
by Bruce Springsteen

From HoldenM 05/25/2023 19:43 | #297222

Somehow not as desolate and depressing as the actual state of Nebraska, but pretty close. Where Bruce's albums before this are filled with aspiration and optimism, Nebraska tells stories of all those dreams deferred. Where tramps on earlier tracks are born to run, the characters here will likely never go the distance. Yet, underneath the barren guitar, vocals, and occasional harmonica, Springsteen is unable to totally shake his sense of possibility. How could he be any other way? Victories may be far and few between, but they're never taken for granted.

Definitely this is a unique album in Bruce's cataloguez it reminds me of Leonard Cohen or Bob Dylan's Blood On The Tracks and later people like Sufjan Stevens. Bruce here is poetic as never before although he is generally a wonderful lyricist and the least flashy instrumentals of his career help to create that dark atmosphere. Atlantic City is commonly known masterpiece, but there are also some hidden gems that get you in your emotions pretty hard - Highway Patrolman, Nebraska and hauntingly beutiful State Trooper which is hard-hitting suicide ballad enhanced by instrumental sounding like ticking clock. There are also great low-key songs about family - Used Cars and especially My Father's House. I think that this has optimistic ending with Reason To Believe.

Great Springsteen record

Dark as Hell. NICE

Maravillosa sorpresa con un Springsteen acústico (antes de la fiebre de los unplugged) e intimista. Magnífico.

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It must have taken an act of God for Columbia Records to release a cassette home demo as a studio album. In an era of overproduction, this preceded nearly all mass-marketed albums with indie, lo-fi or sparce production. Today, most Americana artists try to produce studio albums modeled after the magic of these home demos. This record is dark but delicate. Every song is a miniature movie, with characters and a story about their struggles. A true landmark.

Essential.

A Side: Atlantic City
B Side: Highway Patrolman

From teague 08/31/2021 23:15 | #273149

Springsteen channels Dylan for his most bleak and emotionally raw release. I also find it to be head and shoulders above the rest of his albums.

Amazing how Bruce decided to followup his biggest hit album by a complete stylistic 180. Works pretty good for this album.

Bruce dipping his toe in folk. A quiet, dark effort with a very consistent tone. Its definitely caters towards a certain mood, but an excellent album from the Boss. Worthy of the high praise for sure.